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CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden says 75 million Americans have high blood pressure, and about half of them don

CDC Study Again Calls Attention to Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure

About 75 million Americans have high blood pressure, and about half of them don't have it under control, raising their risk of stroke and heart attack, CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden reiterated Sept. 13.

Fund Created for Southeast Asia Health Emergency Preparedness

Earthquakes, cyclones, and floods have caused health emergencies in the region in recent years, and emerging diseases that include SARS, MERS CoV, pandemic influenza, and Zika virus also have threatened residents in the region.

NTSB Examining Uncontained Engine Failure on Southwest Plane

So far, NTSB's initial findings from the examination of the airplane and the engine and a metallurgical examination show that the the left engine inlet separated from the engine during the flight, and debris from the inlet damaged the airplane fuselage and wing, gashing a 5-inch by 16-inch hole in the left fuselage just above the left wing.



Auto Parts Manufacturer, Temp Agency Fined

HP Pelzer Automotive Systems Inc. and Sizemore Inc., a staffing agency, face a total of $704,610 in penalties in an case following an inspection of a plant in Thomson, Ga.

After reviewing current Medicare emergency preparedness regulations, CMS found the regulatory requirements were not comprehensive enough to address the complexities of emergency preparedness.

CMS Issues Final Rule to Increase Facilities' Emergency Preparedness

The rule will require Medicare and Medicaid participating providers and suppliers to develop an emergency plan using an all-hazards approach and to meet other industry best practices.

DOT Announces $211 Million for New Buses and Facilities

The grants will allow for a more modern, reliable bus service for transit riders across the country. "Maintaining our public transit systems in a state of good repair is vitally important to meet the needs of today's transit riders and a growing population," FTA Acting Administrator Carolyn Flowers said.

FDA Provides $21.8 Million for Produce Safety Rule Implementation

The funds will help local farmers with implementation.

Tests Demonstrate GPS Backup Already Available

In their conference paper, the authors say the fiber network could be a partial backup to GPS, and GPS could be used for calibration to correct timing delays. Or, to provide a more reliable backup, two independent telecom network paths could be used.

FHWA Accepting Nominations for Emergency Route Working Group

The committee of as many as 25 members will provide advice and recommendations to the secretary of Transportation on best practices for expeditious state approval of special permits for vehicles involved in emergency response and recovery.

DOT Grants $3.6 Billion to Support Transportation Infrastructure

The Build America Bureau has awarded grants to 18 projects in 15 states. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said, "From eliminating traffic bottlenecks and enhancing port capacity to overhauling a major freight corridor, the 18 inaugural FASTLANE grants will enable people and goods to move more efficiently."

OSHA Wants Input on Shipyard Fall Protection Rules

Falls are a leading cause of shipyard fatalities, according to OSHA, which states that 40 percent of all fatal incidents in shipyard employment from 1992 to 2014 resulted from falls to a lower level, citing BLS data. The current standards haven't been updated since 1971.

FDA Issues Final Rule on Antibacterial Soaps

The rule removes triclosan and triclocarban from over-the-counter antibacterial hand and body washes. Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said "some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long term."

Time's Running Out to Submit AIHce 2017 PDC Proposals

The deadline to submit a proposal to present at the June 4-7 conference in Seattle is Sept. 14, so get moving if you're interested.

The Evolution of Flame-Resistant Clothing

Flame-resistant (FR) clothing has come a long way from its origins in the lab of French chemist Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac, who first discovered that ammonium phosphates and borax were capable of making textiles relatively flame retardant in 1821.

$121K in Fines Proposed for Exposing Workers to Trench Cave-In at Austin Project

The construction companies received one willful and four serious violations in total.

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